Paula Swayne, Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunnigan, REALTORS

Saying "Sacramento is a destination" may not be what travelers may have heard. What is more commonly heard is "Sacramento is a great place to start from". Even native Sacramentans may have come to believe this...we hear it quite often.

I beg to differ. I defy anyone to identify a city that has more to offer than Sacramento.

• We are at the convergence of 2 beautiful rivers: the Sacramento River and the American River. Some may dispute the Sacramento River as being beautiful since it contains a heavy dose of run-off from farmlands north of it. However, navigating the Sacramento Delta will prove its scenic qualities. The American River is popular for rafting and fishing.
• Sacramento is the City of Trees, boasting more trees per capita than any other city in the world.
• Sacramento is enjoying a growing industry...the wine industry. Just across the Sacramento River is a multitude of wonderful, award winning wineries. Travel into the foothills to enjoy wonderful family-owned wineries galore.
• Besides the obvious offering of professional sports like the Sacramento Kings and the minor league RiverCats, Sacramento offers a plethora of recreational sports such as softball, baseball, soccer, swimming, basketball and more.
• Sacramento is just a little over an hour from the world-renowned city of San Francisco for those who wish to visit or shop.
• For the skiing enthusiasts, travel up Highway 50 or Interstate 80 for an hour and a half to have world-class slopes of Heavenly Valley, Squaw, Boreal, Sugarbowl, Kirkwood, North Star and more to enjoy.
• Ocean lovers can bask in the sun after traveling just an hour from Sacramento.
• Jazz enthusiasts from all over the world converge on Sacramento in May for the Sacramento Jazz Festival.
• Boating enthusiasts can travel 45 minutes to Folsom Lake, just a few minutes to the Sacramento River or American River or, if they like a chill in the water, to Lake Tahoe.
• World-class restaurants have sprouted up in the past few years to offer those who enjoy a comfortable evening out an memorable experience.
• Sacramento has a strong artistic flair. The Crocker Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the West and just finished a beautiful, state of the art addition. Every new construction is required to contain funding for art within its venue. There are several offerings for the performing arts, many of them offered throught the California Community Theater.

I could go on forever, but it would become overwhelming for the reader to take it all in. Come visit us!

For a change, the Sacramento City Council finally got it right! After heavy lobbying by the Land Park Community Association, the Broadway Partnership, the Land Park Volunteer Corp and both Land Park and Southside neighborhoods, the city council made a major step towards a Sacramento River crossing!

Over 15 testimonies were made by these groups and others last Tuesday night. With the exception of one neighbor who saw no problem with a W/X bridge, all were in agreement. Here are the highlights of the decision made:

• A crossing at Sutterville Road is simply a bad idea...traffic similar to in front of Arden Fair using Land Park as a short cut to downtown, the disaster it would be for William Land Park, and the number of homes that would have to be eliminated to allow for the base. Sutterville Road was taken off of the list of potential river crossings.
• A crossing at Broadway, as originally planned (a 4 lane commuter bridge) is a bad idea...the same said traffic cutting through Southside Park as a short cut to downtown, businesses being disrupted due to the amount of traffice, the elimination of the pedestrian feel of Broadway. It was decided that a smaller, neighborhood friendly bridge just might work.
• A definition of what a "neighborhood friendly" bridge will be supplied by the city staff within 3 weeks to ensure the understanding of the scale that is being discussed.
• The primary site that should be researched is a northern bridge at the Railyards. Councilwoman Ashby, in whose area this would land, is enthusiastic about this priority. All who spoke agreed that the first bridge developed should be a northern site.

This is truly exciting news. While the funding is still not there, it is important to have a future plan that will benefit both Sacramento and West Sacramento. The head of SACOG insinuated that if we direct them to place a priority at the northern end of the river, they cannot guarantee funding. Councilman Fong said it best...."I am okay with not getting funding for something we don't want", meaning a 4 lane commuter bridge at Broadway should also be off the table.

Sacramento took a big, and positive step Tuesday, by putting the interests of their constituents first...what a novel concept!

In a time when jobs are an envied commodity, when "upside down" has taken on a scary and all new meaning, when retirement has adopted a new horizon and a college education carries with it no guarantees, there is a silver lining.

These economic times have forced, at the very least, a review of how things were done in the past as opposed to how they need to be done in the future. People have drawn together and, rather than have some lose their job, have taken an across the board pay cut. Some, who lost their jobs, found their passion and have found a new and joyful way to support themselves and their families. Owners of businesses have taken no salary to ensure the health of their businesses and the continued employment of their workers. We have learned how to get by with less.

Now, you may be wondering how this applies to the sucker patrol. William Land Park, a beautiful, 144acre park in the heart of Sacramento has had their maintenance workers dwindle from 50+ to 6. You can imagine that this gem of Sacramento simply cannot be maintained with such a drastic cut in care. Well, a man with some foresight saw a solution in creating the Land Park Volunteer Corp. He called upon the adjoining Land Park residents to step up...and we have...typically 60 strong, the first Saturday of every month.

Today, we trimmed ivy off of the Funderland wall. We maintained 4 flower beds that we re-created when they were let go. We weeded, we raked and we trimmed. Me? Well, I got to help one of the 2 "Sucker Patrol" teams. The trees were doing their very best to create little trees and new branches all around their base and trunk. We got to attack those volunteer "suckers" with a vengeance. Now, with the 2 and 1/2 hours that we were allowed, we only got to about a third of the trees that needed trimming, so I think we will be attacking again in August.

The best part is that this program has been such a success, that other neighborhoods that adjoin city parks are adopting the program as well. So, just when you think that good can't possibly come out of these difficult times, think again. The silver lining? People are working together to save what is really important in our lives. There is a new clarity...and isn't it wonderful?

Yup...that's what I was...a muddy mess! However, I sure had fun gettin there!

Yesterday was the annual Doggy Dash - a fundraiser for the local SPCA. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a sunny, beautiful June day. Unfortunately, our weather has been anything but normal, so despite the prayers of everyone involved, it rained...just as it has been doing all spring.

Just as evidence of Sacramento's dedication to it's pets, the turnout was still impressive! Thousands of people and dogs sloshed through William Land Park's normally hardy grass, now a mushy, muddy quagmire. Vendors pressed themselves to the middle of their canopies, hoping to keep their wares just a little dry.

The dogs? Well the water-loving dogs not only enjoyed the rain, but relished in traipsing through the water filled gutters. The less enthusiastic dogs had owners who knew them well and covered them with rain coats or warm vests. The older ones were toted in flower-decorated wagons towed by loving owners. They all barked a little, whined a little, sniffed a lot and wagged tails.

Me? Well, my dog has a tendency to pounce on me with her two front paws...a lot. She particularly enjoyed the water and the mud. So, as high as she could reach, I was muddy....and wet. Can you think of a better way of getting there? (oh...there will be a real photo as soon as my daughter can send it to me!)

All in all, a great morning!